PhD

Developing the next generation of business scholars

Fuqua's PhD Program in Business Administration (CIP 52.1399, STEM eligible) prepares candidates for research and teaching careers at leading educational institutions and for careers where advanced research and analytical capabilities are needed.

At Fuqua, you'll develop close working relationships with leading scholars in your field in a stimulating and collaborative learning environment. We encourage strong collaborations between students and faculty, both within your academic area and across different areas, in order to foster the groundbreaking interdisciplinary research we're known for.

Academic Experience

Our PhD program focuses on three critical development areas to prepare you for your career:

  • Independent inquiry
  • Competence in research methodology
  • Communication of research results

From the start, you'll be introduced to rigorous coursework and the research activities across our faculty and your PhD student peers.

Our Faculty

In our PhD degree program, you'll work with our world-renowned faculty who are recognized for excellence in both teaching and research, and for their accessibility across degree programs.

Program Requirements

The PhD in Business Administration is a degree of the Graduate School of Duke University and follows the degree requirements set by Duke's Graduate School. In general, the PhD program requires an average of 5 years to complete. After you and a faculty member in your academic area determine your specific study program, according to your interests and goals, you'll be required to:

  • Gain expertise in your area of special interest through your coursework and independent study
  • Complete a preliminary qualifiying exam in this area of study by the third year of residence, or earlier
  • Defend your dissertation successfully

How to Apply

If you have any questions about Fuqua's PhD programs, please contact our PhD Program Office +1 919.660.7862 or by email. Applications for the PhD program can be found online on the Duke Graduate School website. The application deadline is December 15.

Admission is based on both merit and on a competitive basis. On average, each academic area matriculates 2-3 students each year. The acceptance rate ranges between 2% and 8% across the areas.

Placements

Recent PhD Placements

Accounting
Yale University, Yale School of Management  
Cornell University, Johnson College of Business  
INSEAD  
University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management  
University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business  

 

Decision Sciences
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business  
University of Texas at Dallas, Jindal School of Management  
University of Chicago, Booth School of Business  
European School of Management and Technology (ESMT)  
New York University – Shanghai  
University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business  

 

Finance
Yale University, Yale School of Management  
Purdue University, Krannert School of Management  
University of Michigan, Ross School of Business  
University of Western Ontario, Ivey School of Business  
City University of Hong Kong, College of Business  

 

Management and Organizations
Hong Kong university of Science and Technology (HKUST)  
Cornell University, Johnson College of Business  
Tulane University, Freeman School of Business  
Columbia University, Columbia Business School  
Michigan State University, Broad College of Business  
INSEAD  

 

Marketing
Hong Kong University, Business School  
University of Washington, Foster School of Business  
University of Rochester, Simon Business School  
University of Pittsburg, Katz Graduate School of Business  
Cornell University, Johnson College of Business  
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business  

 

Operations Management
Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business  
Pennsylvania State University, Smeal College of Business  
University of Pittsburg, Katz Graduate School of Business  
University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School  
John Hopkins, Carey Business School  
Purdue University, Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business  

 

Strategy
University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management  
London Business School  
University of Colorado, Leeds School of Business  
Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business  
European School of Management and Technology (ESMT)  
New York University, Stern School of Business  

#Papers

Papers

Oliver Binz - Accounting

Gregory Burke - Accounting

Matt Kubic - Accounting

Chen Chen - Decision Sciences

Mingliu Chen - Decision Sciences

Yan Chen - Decision Sciences

Huseyin Gurkan - Decision Sciences

Simiao Jiao - Decision Sciences

Cagin Uru - Decision Sciences

Sophie Yu - Decision Sciences

Jingwei Zhang - Decision Sciences

Hanjing Zhu - Decision Sciences

Rafael Alves - Finance

John Barry - Finance

Hao Pang - Finance

Danbee Chon - Management & Organizations

Sean Fath - Management & Organizations

Carman W Fowler - Management & Organizations

Anyi Ma - Management & Organizations

Jessica Paek - Management & Organizations

Rebecca Ponce de Leon - Management & Organizations

Sara Wingrove - Management & Organizations

Rodrigo Dias - Marketing

Holly Howe - Marketing

Nah Lee - Marketing

Demilade Oba - Marketing

Siddharth Prusty - Marketing

Jacqueline Rifkin - Marketing

Kelley Gullo Wight - Marketing

Lingrui Zhou - Marketing

Yuan-Mao Kao - Operations Management

Chenghuai Li - Operations Management

Yuexing Li - Operations Management

Chen-An Lin - Operations Management

James Scott - Operations Management

Ali Kaan Tuna - Operations Management

Divya Sebastian - Strategy

Lia Sheer - Strategy

Awards

Oliver Binz - Accounting

  • FARS Midyear Meeting Outstanding Reviewer Award 2022
  • EAR Conference Best Discussant Award 2021

Matthew Kubic - Accounting

  • The Fuqua School of Business' Best Dissertation Award 2019-2020

Ayoub Amil - Decision Sciences

Irem Nur Keskin - Decision Sciences

  • 2024 POMS College of Supply Chain Management Best Student Paper Competition, Honorable Mention

Cagin Uru - Decision Sciences

Sophie Yu - Decision Sciences

Taha Ahsin - Finance

  • MFA Doctoral Symposium (2022), Finalist
  • SFA Doctoral Student Paper Runners-Up Award (2022)

Jing Huang - Finance

  • European Finance Association Best Conference Paper Prize 2021 for Open Banking: Credit Market Competition when Borrowers Own the Data
  • Western Finance Association Best Paper in FinTech 2022, for "Fintech Expansion"

YoungJun Song - Finance

  • Most Influential Faculty Award

Sean Fath - Management & Organizations

  • Selected for AOM Best Paper Proceedings (top 10% of accepted papers)

Xiaoran Li - Management & Organizations

  • Academy of Management (AOM) OB Division Best Reviewer Award 2024

Anyi Ma - Management & Organizations

Jessica Paek - Management & Organizations

Rebecca Ponce de Leon - Management & Organizations

  • The Fuqua School of Business' Best Dissertation Award 2021-2022
  • University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Advancing Research and Creativity Grant 2022
  • Winner, INFORMS/Organization Science Dissertation Proposal Competition 2021

Jessica Reif - Management & Organizations

Rodrigo Dias - Marketing

  • JCR Ferber Award
  • MSI Alden-Clayton Dissertation Proposal Competition (Honorable Mention)
  • AMA CBSig Rising Star Award (2023)
  • AMA Sheth Doctoral Consortium Fellow
  • AMA CBSig Rising Star Award
  • AMA Mathew Joseph Emerging Scholar Award
  • SCP 2023 Best Competitive Paper Finalist

Holly Howe - Marketing

  • AMA Sheth Consortium Fellow 2020
  • Society of Consumer Psychology, Best Poster Award - Beyond Persuasion: Developing a Framework of Communication Patterns in Joint Decision-Making

Jacqueline Rifkin - Marketing

  • Co-Principal Investigator, The Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business Research Grant 2022
  • Best Talk Award 2022, Society for Consumer Psychology Conference (Interpersonal Relations & Group Processes Track)
  • Early Career Faculty Award 2021, University of Missouri-Kansas City Emeritus College

Boya Xu - Marketing

  • 2024 ASA Statistics in Marketing Doctoral Dissertation Research Award Finalist
  • AMA Sheth Consortium Fellow 2023
  • Co-Principal Investigator, NET Institute Research Grant 2023
  • INFORMS Marketing Science Doctoral Consortium Fellow, 2021, 2023

Chenghuai Li - Operations Management

Yuexing Li - Operations Management

Chen-An Lin - Operations Management

Larisa Cioaca - Strategy

  • 2024-2025 Katherine G. Stern Fellowship, Duke University Graduate School
  • 2024 Junior Fellow, Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) at George Mason University

Divya Sebastian - Strategy

Lia Sheer - Strategy

  • The Fuqua School of Business' Best Dissertation Award 2020-2021
Frequently Asked Questions

What areas of study do you offer?

We have study concentrations in the following areas: Accounting, Decision Sciences, Finance, Marketing, Management and Organizations, Operations Management and Strategy.

Could you evaluate my chances of admissions to the program?

Please be advised, we cannot offer assessment of candidacy to applicants or provide feedback to re-applicants. The admission decision is made by faculty in each area and awarded on a competitive basis, after evaluating all applications. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

Do you have online or part time options for your degree program?

No, online or part time options are not available for our doctoral program.

Do you have to be in residence during the program?

Students are required to be in residence during their coursework (2-3 years) and are highly encouraged to remain in residence for the remainder of the program. On average, students complete the program in 5 years.

I have a graduate degree. Could I be exempt from the GRE/GMAT test requirement?

The GMAT or GRE is required for admission to the Business Administration Program. The GMAT or GRE cannot be waived under any circumstance.

Is there a minimum score for GMAT or GRE?

There is no minimum score requirement, although successful applicants tend to have competitive scores.

If I have an MBA degree, will that make a difference?

Some students have an MBA or another master's degree before entering the program. However, an MBA or another master's degree is not required for admissions.

Is work experience required?

No, it is not required.

Are interviews required as part of the admissions process?

No, they are not required, although some areas may choose to conduct preliminary interviews prior to final admission decisions.

How many recommendation letters are required?

Three recommendation letters are required.

What financial assistance is available for doctoral students?

Fuqua offers fellowships to all doctoral students, including international students. This fellowship pays for tuition, a competitive stipend for living expenses, and single person health fees. The fellowship is renewable for up to five years of doctoral education, conditional on good academic standing in the program. Additional funding in the form of research and teaching assistantships is also available to PhD students. For information about financial aid, please see https://gradschool.duke.edu/financial-support.

Your admission to the PhD program will include stipends, tuition and registration, and health fees for up to ten semesters, provided you are making satisfactory progress in the program.  Other forms of financial assistance include:

  • Desktop computer
  • Support for approved academic travel
  • Assistance in seeking funding from the Graduate School and outside sources

Teaching and research assistantships are available for supplementary funding.  For additional information about financial aid, please see https://gradschool.duke.edu/financial-support.

Can I visit the Fuqua School of Business?

The PhD office is unable to offer school tours or individual meetings with Fuqua faculty before the pre-admit season begins. Contacting faculty prior to application submission is not necessary. Due to the volume of inquiries, faculty members regret that they are unable to respond to all inquiries. Prospective students are encouraged to learn about faculty research.

Do you have a resource guide for Duke and the greater Durham area?

Duke Graduate School and the Emerging Leaders Institute have surveyed current students and created The Professional's Guide to Duke and Durham to answer common questions for incoming students.

Duke's Graduate School

The answers to the following frequently asked questions can be found at the Duke's Graduate School general webpage:

  • How do I apply to the PhD Program?
  • Do I need to provide TOEFLs or IELTS scores?
  • What is the minimum ESL-related score?
  • If I have an admissions question, who do I contact?
  • How much is the application fee?
  • Are official documents required during the application review process?
  • My transcript is not in English, do I need to provide a translation?
  • What if I retake the GRE or GMAT, which score is considered?
  • How can I check the status of my application?
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Start your application to one of our PhD programs now.

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Accounting * Decision Sciences * Finance * Management and Organizations * Marketing * Operations Management * Strategy

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Fuqua PhD students at a gathering
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PhD Program in Business Administration

Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business

100 Fuqua Drive
Durham, NC 27708-0120
Tel +1.919.660.7862
fuqua-phd-info@duke.edu

Office Hours

Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.

Map and Directions

Fields of Study


Accounting

Get a solid foundation in the tools of accounting research.

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Decision Sciences

Help organizations make better decisions.

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Finance

Push the frontiers of research in financial economics.

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Management and Organizations

Understand organizations from multiple perspectives.

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Marketing

Among the most published and cited marketing faculties in the world.

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Operations Management

Think conceptually, carefully and creatively about operations issues.

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Strategy

Innovation, entrepreneurship, organizations, and business and public policy.

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